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Environmentally minded consumers soon will be able to buy Victoria’s Secret underwear — or
anything else Limited Brands makes, for that matter — with a clearer conscience.

Responding to a study and campaign by environmental group Greenpeace, Columbus-based Limited
Brands agreed yesterday to eliminate hazardous chemicals from the manufacture of all of its
products, including those sold by its lingerie brands Victoria’s Secret and La Senza.

“Limited Brands considers clean water as a critical global issue and is proud to join Greenpeace
in its campaign to eliminate hazardous chemical use,” said Sam Fried, a Limited Brands executive
vice president.

In a study released late last year, Greenpeace said it found traces of phthalates in underwear
purchased from Victoria’s Secret. The chemical, which is used in products to improve flexibility,
is linked to endocrine changes and birth defects, according to the Environmental Working Group.“The
evidence doesn’t point to these chemicals getting into your skin,” said John Deans of Greenpeace. “
We’re not saying that by putting on Victoria’s Secret lingerie you’re exposing yourself to a
pollutant. It’s generally from the water sources or the water cycle. Both chemicals are polluting
at the site of manufacturing, and shoppers and consumers are becoming unwitting accomplices in
putting those pollutants into our waterways.”

Limited Brands will ban the use of phthalates in the manufacture of its products and will take
steps to make sure its suppliers don’t use them, either. The agreement calls for the company to
issue a report on those moves in June.

The company also said it will eliminate use of perfluorinated chemicals in its products by July
2015. Perfluorinated chemicals can cause cancer.

Limited Brands has committed to eliminating hazardous chemicals from manufacture by 2020.

Greenpeace says Limited Brands has become the 14th company to commit to its “detox” program.

Other companies that have signed on include Adidas, Esprit, Levi Strauss, Nike, Puma, Marks
& Spencer and H&M.